Shoe-rack



SHQE RACK. APPLICATION` FILED JUNE x9. .19|9.

Patented Apr.' 26, 1921.

Figi.

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EDWARD OBRIEN, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.,

Patented Apr. 26, 19211.

application filed rune 19, 1919. serial No. 305,380. f

acters on the drawing representing klike parts.

This invention relates to shoe racks such as are used in shoe factories for transporting shoes from one location to another during their process of manufacture, and particularly to a shoe rack oli the type in which the shelves are made of bars that extend longitudinally of the shelf and that are secured at their ends to end pieces or cross pieces.'

ln shoe racks of this type it frequently hapiens that the bars become warned twisted l l n or bent, thus producing an uneven shelf` wliich does not correctlysupport the shoe.

T he object of my invention isto provide an improved construction by which a shelf ot this sort may be strengthenedand the bars prevented from warping or twisting.

ln order to give an understanding of my invention, l have illustrated in the drawings some selected embodiments thereof which will now be descril ed, after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claim.

En the drawings, Figure 1'is a side view of a shoe rack embodyingl my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 27 Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3MB, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4l is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a dil'erent form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a Section on the line 5 5, Fig. 3;

Fig is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a slightly diiiferent construction;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing stille different embodiment orn the invention. i

1 indicates generally the shoe rack which is provided with a plurality of end posts 2 on which the shelves are supported. Each of the shelves is made of a plurality of spaced bars which extend longitudinally thereof and are anchored at their ends in end pieces e that extend betweenand are se cured to the posts 2. rllhese bars may be either in the form oi round rods 3)', as seen in lFig. 3, or may be fiat bars 16, as shown in Fig. 4, and the shelves may bemade entirely of bars of either type, or partly of round rods and partly of Hat bars or slats 16. The shelf shown in Fig. 3 is made of round rods and that shown in Fig. L1 is made partly of the round rods 8 and partly of the flat bars or slats 16.

et each edge of the shelf is a side rail 5 which is secured at its ends to the end posts 2, and the upper edge of which is situated slightly above the rods 3, the side rails 5 acting `as guard members to prevent the shoes from sliding off the shelves. A

As stated above, my invention relates to a novel construction by which the bars 3 and 16 are stiffened and prevented from warping -or twisting` so that the shelves will remain flat. i 1 secure the object of my invention by providing a plurality ot' novel cross members in the form ot braces which entend across the shelf and which have an interlocking engagement with the bars. lEach cross brace is divided longitudinally to present an upper member 6 and a lower member? which are clamped togetherin some suitable way `as by means of a clamping bolt 8 or screws 9. rlhe meeting edges of these members are formed with recesses which receive the bars so that the rods are clamped between the members 6 and 7. Each cross-brace is anchored at its ends in the side rails 5, and for this purpose each side rail will be provided with an aperture 10 to receive the reduced end 11 of the cross brace. l will preferably connect the cross braces to the side rails by means of screws 12` or nails.

Byy reason ofthe fact'that the bars are clamped between the two members of each cross brace, said bars will be held in the same plane and will be prevented from warping or twisting. l may use any desired number of cross braces, depending upon the length of the shelf. ln the drawings l have,

shown two cross braces for each shelf, but additional ones may be employed it necesn sary.

1n some racks it is desirable that the top of the shelf should be smooth and free from projections, and accordingly I have provided a construction wherein the top edge of the upper member 6 oi each cross brace comes flush with the top of the bars. This is accomplished inlig. Shy providing each rod 3 with the portion 13 of reduced diameter at the' point where the cross braces are situated and making the recesses in the meeting edges of the cross braces ot a size to receive the reduced portion 13 of the rods. lllhe upper member' 6 of each cross brace has a width equal to the length of the portion 18 of reduced diameter and has a vertical dimension equal to one-half the diameter of the rods 3, so that said member will fit between the shoulders 161 at the ends of the reduced portion 13, and the top of the member 6 will come flush with the top of the rods 8, as indicated clearly in Figs. 3 and 5. The lower member 7 may have the saine width as the upper member 6, in which case it will i'it 4between the shoulders 14, as shown in Fig. 5, or it may be made somewhat wider than the upper member 6 and be provided with half-round seats 15 on which the portion of the rod 3 adjacent the shoulders 111 rest, as shown in the case of the member 7 in Fig. 6. In both cases, however, the lower members 7, 7 will preferably have a greater vertical dimension than the upper member 6 thereby adding to the strength of said member.

In the construction shown in 5 the weight on the rods '8 is transmitted to the lower member 7 through the necked portion 13 of said rods, while in the construction shown in Fig. 6, the weight on the rods 3 is transmitted to the lower member 7 through the shoulders 15.

1n some shoe racks it is customary to mairel the longitudinal members adjacent the side rails 5 in the form of flat bars or slats rather than round rods in order to provide a support of increased width for the heels of shoes, this construction being especially useful where the shoes supported on the rack have French heels.

Fig. i is a cross-sectinal view through the shelf of a shoe rack having this construction, and the two slats at the edges of the shelves are indicated at 16. In embodying my invention in a rack of this construction each slat 16 will be provided with the portion 17 of reduced cross-section and the brace members 6 and 7 will be provided on their meeting edges with half recesses' 18 of a shape to receive the reduced portion 17 of the slats 16. In other respects the construction shown in Fig. 1 is similar to that shown in Fig. 3. Q

Since the brace members are anchored at their ends in the side rails 5, and since they are constructed so that the rods 3 or slats 16 are clamped between the two members thereof said braces will serve to hold the rods or slats in proper aliiiement and will thus prevent the rods or slats from warping'4 or twisting and will, therefore, preserve theiiat character of the shelf.

Some shoe racks are made with partitions extending transversely of the shelves for the purpose of separating the shoes. ln shoeraclrs of this type the upper member 6 of' each brace may be made to extend considerablvabove the bars so that the u oer edv e of said member will constitute one of therlhis construction is.;

desired partitions. shown in Fig. 7.

1 claim:

ln a shoe rack, the combination with up-v rights, of shelves supported thereby and.

comprising bars extending longitudinally thereof, said bars having portions of' rei-- duced diameter, and brace elements extend-- ing transverselyv of the shelf, each brace ele- Vnient comprising an upper and a lower brace member between w-liicliisaid bars extend and which are provided with recesses to receive the necked portions of said bars, and means to clamp said brace members together.

1n testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification.

EDWARD F. OBRIEN. 

